Party Shuttles? Transponders? Gondolas? Here are some ideas to speed up access to Dodger Stadium

The Dodger’s decision to reopen the Scott Avenue entrance has met with a lot of neighborhood opposition in Echo Park. But the team says it needs to open the gate to improve the flow of traffic into and out of the stadium. The Dodgers have also implemented other measures – increasing pedestrian and bike access, improving links to public transportation and selling pre-paid parking – as part of an effort to “help clear traffic off of city streets as quickly as possible,” according to the team’s transportation access plan. But there’s plenty more that can be done. Here are some ideas that have been come up recently as the Dodgers and their neighbors prepare for the season opener on April 4:

Party Shuttles The Dodgers are working with Rally Bus, a private service that provides a “Dodger experience” shuttle, said Dodger spokeswoman said Renata Simril. “The bus picks up at two or three city locations, which they determine, and shuttles [fans] into the stadium. We are looking to work with them on two home stands, one in May and one in June, to determine its effectiveness.”

If The Hollywood Bowl Can Do It …. Explore shuttle options at park-and-ride locations – for instance, Los Angeles Zoo, Friendship Auditorium, Four Square Church parking lots, said Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.

Transponders One Echo Park resident proposed the Dodgers sell transponders – such as the one used on toll roads – that would allow autos to enter and exit the stadium without having to stop at the gate to purchase parking.

Pay To LeaveRequiring fans to pay for parking when they exit the stadium instead of when they enter would help clear the streets more quickly of traffic before and after games, said Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.

Chinatown GondolaAn Eastsider commenter named Samarkand elaborated on this idea:

“Several years ago, there was a proposal for an aerial tramway in Griffith Park that was, probably rightfully, shot down. But has anyone ever considered an aerial lift to Dodger Stadium?

An aerial gondola between Chinatown Metro Station and Dodger Stadium could have a capacity of up to 6,000 passengers per hour — a sizable chunk of Dodger Stadium’s capacity of 56,000. And if the Dodgers ever followed through on plans proposed during the McCourt era for a museum at the stadium, there could be demand for the gondola year-round, with tourists getting some great views of downtown as they soar over Chinatown.

I realize that there would be some considerations that could make this proposal impractical: cost, engineering feasibility, rights-of-way, and availability of space around Chinatown Metro Station (particularly with the current construction of the Blossom Plaza project in an adjacent parcel). But an aerial gondola could possibly do a lot to alleviate traffic around Dodger Stadium, and I’m wondering if it has ever been considered?